Cited at the time as the "worst highway accident in North Carolina history", it occurred at about 7 a.m. on 06 June 1957 in Cumberland County, at the intersection of U.S. 301 and then N.C. 102. The crash involved a tractor-trailer truck loaded with potatoes and a 1 ½ ton stake truck loaded with migrant workers, in route to pick beans. Fourteen people were pronounced dead at the scene and thirteen days later the fatalities tally reached twenty-one; including that of an 18-month old boy. Non-fatal injuries from this accident were twenty-three.On the 15 of June – thirteen wooden caskets were laid side by side in a mass grave:Thomas Mackey, Lee Abram, Lee Brown, John Grant, Lewis Wesley, Unidentified #2 male, Willie Gary, Richard Stevens, Retha Freeman, Charles Freeman, Lucille Freeman, and Daisy Freeman.Seven victims were claimed by family and taken to their respective states for burial: Lovelle Giles – Alabama, Harrison Head, Jr. – Georgia, Johnnie Davis – Georgia, James Core – Pennsylvania, M. C. McGowan – Georgia, Willie French – Georgia, and Gustine French - Georgia. Finally, 10th of July, the remaining victim was laid to rest: Joe Porter.